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From: Katie Warren
Subject: Your TopResume Resume Critique
Importance: High

You signed up to receive a resume critique from TopResume.

Hi Olga,

This free resume evaluation is intended to give you an honest, straightforward assessment with some suggestions to help in your job search. I personally review hundreds of resumes each month so I'm able to provide insight into how you compare to other job seekers competing for the same positions.

Overview of Your Resume

My first impression of you is that you have an impressive array of skills and experiences. You’re a qualified Education, Research & Development Executive with a lot to offer an employer. The bad news: Your resume does not pass the 30-second test, and the content is not up to the standards expected from a candidate like you. It's possible you are not getting as many interviews as you deserve.

Digital Readiness

Your resume is saved in an older version of Microsoft Word. Good news: 29% of resumes look like yours and applicant tracking systems like this format. But, if you have a version of Microsoft Word that's 2007 or newer, you might want to consider saving as .docx. This more modern and slightly smaller file format is even more digital-friendly.

114k

Your resume is 114k in size. About 86% of resumes are smaller than yours. This puts you at the higher end of the spectrum, so you might want to trim down pieces that make the file bigger. Sometimes, this is as simple as standardizing fonts or formatting.

When reading through your resume, I noticed that it contained several pages and, this doesn’t even include your cover letter. Employers have a limited amount of time to scan resumes after a computer does it for them, so you want your resume to be as concise as possible.

Visual Presentation and Organization

We’ve all been told that looks don’t matter as much as substance, but in the case of your resume this just isn’t true. I found your design to be crowded and visually uneven. The appearance is not polished, and it doesn’t say "high potential Sr. Lecturer/ R&D Director/ Published Author." Remember that your resume is your marketing tool. It’s the first impression a potential employer has of you.

I liked your use of bullets to emphasize, but you probably want to consider limiting them in some areas to increase the impact to the employer. If they see too many bullets, they might find it difficult to zero in on the most important information. Size and type of bullets are also a consideration. Although seemingly minor, visual impact of a resume is the key to ensuring that an employer reads it thoroughly.

Your font sizes are slightly inconsistent. Having a header and section break stand out is fine, but changing fonts mid-sentence or from one line to the next can make your resume harder to read. Employers can also interpret this as not paying attention to detail.

Resume Writing

Your resume doesn't include a summary section—the key component to compel the hiring manager to keep reading. The career summary content should provide hiring managers with a brief, yet detailed synopsis of what you bring to the table. The purpose of this section is to define you as a professional and cover those areas most relevant to your career level and job target.

It may not seem obvious, but a regular review of every word and sentence in your resume is a good idea. Hiring managers are looking for an excuse to eliminate you as a candidate. You may not be able to see awkward phrases or grammatical errors if you've already spent a lot of time with your own resume.

My Suggestions

Email me with any questions! I critique resumes professionally, and I'm here to help you get more interviews and job offers.

Or, feel free to browse our suite of services to optimize your resume and boost your personal brand.

Thanks, and good luck!

Katie Warren

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